CHAPLAIN continuing education requirements

Continuing Education (CE) helps our chaplains stay equipped and inspired to provide excellent care. Our Chaplains must obtain a minimum of 25 hours every year, but we encourage our chaplains to go beyond that minimum and grow in their ministry and craft of chaplaincy. 


25 hours is a low bar, and we encourage you to shoot for 100 hours each year! As a disciple of Christ, our chaplains are lifelong learners who must be committed to the hard work of study.


ONLY THE CE OPTIONS LISTED BELOW WILL BE ACCEPTED

You may submit a request for approval for CE course or project not listed. 

Please see Frequently Asked Questions below for more details.

our approved ce offerings

These course are reasonably priced and offer great CE learning. 

Free options are available. 

  • paid ce - annual conference of christian chaplains & coaching

    Earn a minimum of 25 CE hours by attending our annual Chaplains Conference—a valuable opportunity for learning, fellowship, and professional growth. We encourage all chaplains to attend every 1 to 3 years, as your schedule and finances permit.

    Click the link below to learn more and find out how to register for the Chaplains Conference!

  • paid ce - chaplains academy courses

    Fulfill your CE requirements with courses designed for professional and spiritual growth. From foundational programs like The Basics of Chaplaincy to specialized training in grief support, coaching, and crisis intervention, there’s something for everyone.

    We also offer free and collaborative courses, providing flexible and affordable ways to enhance your ministry.

  • paid ce - clinical pastoral education

    CPE offers a transformative, 15-week program to equip chaplains and pastoral counselors with essential skills for ministry. Each course provides 100 CE hours, personalized Christian Life Coaching, and training rooted in a biblical worldview.

    CPE credits can also count toward a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree through our partner institutions.

  • paid ce - obtain your cism grin certification

    Consider the CISM/GRIN program for 27 CE hours. Offered in partnership with Lake CISM, this fully online, ICISF-accredited course equips chaplains with essential crisis intervention skills and is recognized by the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and Samaritan's Purse Chaplaincy.

  • paid ce - colson fellows biblical worldview

    Consider the Colson Fellows Program for up to 100 CE hours. This faith-based training equips chaplains with practical tools, biblical insights, and strategies for addressing today’s challenges. Chaplains receive a 25% tuition discount.


  • paid ce - higher education degree

    Consider advancing your education while fulfilling CE requirements. Courses taken toward an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degree in ministry, theology, counseling, or divinity earn 10 CE hours per credit hour. Submit your certificate of completion or unofficial transcript to qualify.

    Additionally, through our degree collaborations, you can apply significant transfer credit from CPE courses, earning up to 24 credit hours toward a Master’s in Chaplaincy or Divinity. These programs are rooted in a biblical worldview and aligned with the standards of the Board Certified Chaplain Institute (BCCI).

  • paid ce - The grief recovery method

    The Grief Recovery Method for 35 CE hours. This intensive, 4-day certification course in grief support is accepted by the Veterans Administration for Specialty Certification for VA Hospital Chaplains.

    Chaplains in good standing receive a $300 discount, reducing the price to $2,195. Additional discounts may be available for veterans through the GI Bill or Vocational Rehabilitation benefits.

    To register, contact Kim Livingston, Director of Certification Training, at 818-921-7739 or klivingston@griefrecoverymethod.com.

  • free ce - monthly chaplain meetings

    Earn up to 10 CE hours annually by attending our Monthly Chaplain Video Meetings. Each meeting provides 1 CE hour, whether you join live or watch the recording later.

    Meeting Schedule:

    • Held on the 4th Saturday of each month from January through October (no meetings in November or December).
    • Starting at 9:00 AM EST.
    • A maximum of 10 CE hours can be claimed per year for these meetings.
    • We’ll send a reminder email with the MS Teams link prior to each meeting.
    • Be sure to track your attendance and report it when verifying your CE hours.

  • free ce - read any of our approved books

    You may claim CE for books listed on our approved reading list. Our hope is that you will engage in learning from the excellent resources we recommend. We will not provide CE for books not on this list. You can claim 2 minutes per page for any book from our list. 


    To claim your CE you will be required to write a paragraph explaining the two big ideas you learned from each book you read and are claiming for CE. 

  • free ce - offerings through our academy

    Kingswood Learn (12 Course Offerings). Others coming soon.


    To qualify for credit you can either provide a certificate from Kingswood (They charge $35 for this option) or you may write a short paper explaining the two big ideas you learned from the course. 

  • free ce - Kairos team training for first time clergy

    Our chaplains who serve for the first time as Clergy on a Kairos inside weekend may claim 25 hours of CE from the team meetings and training provided by Kairos. This will be offered once only and cannot be repeated. 


    PLEASE NOTE: Any CCC chaplain who plans to serve Kairos as clergy must complete the Christian Ministry to the Incarcerated course as required by Kairos leadership. If you have not taken this course, CLICK HERE TO ENROLL

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • We understand that unforeseen circumstances may delay the completion of your CE hours. If you are unable to meet the December 1st deadline, you are still expected to submit your renewal form along with an explanation to request a 90-day extension. During this time, we will assist you in identifying ways to complete your hours. However, failure to fulfill the requirements within the extension period may result in the revocation of your chaplain credentials.

  • If you wish to earn credit for a book not included on the list, please submit a request for approval by October 1st. An $8.00 fee per CE hour will apply to these requests. We strongly encourage you to explore our approved and recommended reading list, thoughtfully designed to enrich your chaplaincy practice and guide you in the art of chaplaincy. View the approved books CLICK HERE

  • Each page of a book provides 2 minutes of CE credit, based on the average reading time per page. To calculate the total hours, multiply the number of pages by 2, then divide by 60. For example, a 150-page book would be calculated as follows: 150 × 2 = 300 minutes, which equals 5 CE hours.

  • It’s simple! Submit a CE approval request form for review by our Chaplains Academy team. The cost is $8.00 per CE hour requested. To get started, just email our communications director to inquire about the approval process to get your CE approved.

  • Courses from any college, university, or seminary that aligns with our Statement of Faith can be counted toward your CE, provided they focus on theology, ministry, chaplaincy, spiritual development, counseling, or pastoral care. These can be standalone courses or part of a degree program. If you are enrolled in a degree program, all courses within that program will qualify. To earn CE credit, simply submit a copy of your unofficial transcript or certificate of completion. A 1-credit college course equals 10 CE hours, and so on. For details about institutions, we formally collaborate with, CLICK HERE

  • Each year, we will send you a renewal form by email on or after October 15th. This form must be completed and submitted by December 1st. It includes a section for you to claim and verify your CE credits. Please follow the instructions on the form carefully. Do not submit your CE records before receiving this form, as we will not track them for you. Be sure to keep a personal record of all CE activities throughout the year and have documentation ready to prove your completion when you submit the form.